A simmering altercation at an apartment complex in east Colorado Springs escalated into deadly violence on the night of Thursday, May 16, 2024, claiming the life of 23-year-old Ramon Ruacho. The Hispanic male was one of three men shot shortly before 10:30 p.m. at the Stone Canyon Apartments on North Murray Boulevard. The incident, which police believe was not a random act of violence, also resulted in the death of 19-year-old Elijah Espinoza and caused serious, though non-life-threatening,
injuries to a third man.
Emergency responders arrived at the chaotic scene to find a grim situation. One of the victims was already deceased inside the apartment complex. Two other men, including Ruacho, were rushed to a local hospital with gunshot wounds. Despite medical efforts, Ramon Ruacho was declared dead at the hospital. His death, along with Espinoza's, marked the 16th and 17th homicides in Colorado Springs for the year.
The Colorado Springs Police Department's investigation into the triple-shooting is ongoing. Detectives believe the violence erupted from a dispute that started inside an apartment before spilling out into the open. As of late May 2024, authorities were still searching for a suspect in connection with the double homicide and had not publicly identified any individuals believed to be responsible for the shooting. No arrests have been announced, and police have appealed to the public for any information or witnesses to the incident to come forward to aid in their investigation.
